Unfortunately I don't have any before shots, but I think it was a green-ish gray color. I lost the before shots because I've been working on it for about a year and a half. And by working on it, I totally mean painting a few lines then procrastinating and leaving it for a month.

I had this suitcase for a while before I decided what to do with it. I think I had even painted it pink with acrylic paint. I scrubbed most of that off and sprayed it with Walmart spray paint. Eventually, after procrastinating for a while I bought small jars of red and white enamel. I taped it and started painting the stripes. That took FOREVER because I had to wait a long time between each coat for it to dry. Then I used polyurethane and put three to four coats on each side. I wouldn't advise using that on white because I have noticed it's got a slight yellow tinge that will probably get worse with age. Hopefully it will hold up when I use it.

The inside is what took me the absolute longest, why it's been a year and half. I couldn't figure out how to reupholster the inside so it would stick permantely and so the glue wouldn't show through the fabric. Spray glue WILL NOT work, and I tried elmer's glue and I even mixed that with a little bit of gorilla glue. Sticky, but it made the fabric really hard. I HAVE FOUND THE SECRET. If you put fabric on the sticky side of contact paper you can put glue on the back of it and it won't show through. Then you can use a thin layer of whatever glue you want, I used wood glue and gorilla glue mixed and spread in a super thin layer.

I'm still not technically done, I didn't put fabric on two of the sides but at this rate I'll never have it done. And it's still usable. The only thing I would have done differently is when I put the tape on I just painted it. My brother who custom paints cars told me I should have heated the tape with a blowdryer so it would seal and I'd have sharper lines. Good advice that I'll definitely use if I ever decide to stripe something again.

I'm taking it on the train to Texas in two weeks, so I'll update when I get back if it chips or anything.

Hubs was walking by (mr. anti-craft) and he says, "Whoa. Is that a Waldo Luggage?" Hubs doesn't even notice what I'M crafting!! Anyway, I love the irony. It's poetic: where's waldo. On luggage. Just makes good sense. We've all been training since Kindergarten to find that fella! You did a great job! Thanks for sharing!

On the luggage cart will probably be the only time Waldo will be easy to spot.

The only thing I'm worried about is it being stolen. Train travel shouldn't be an issue because it's small enough to be used for a carry-on. But if I ever fly again I know I'll be freaking out about it. But the culprit should be easy enough to spot, and it will be even easier to describe to the lost baggage if I ever have to.

When I was brainstorming things to paint on my suitcase I thought of Carmen Sandiego too! I'm moving right now, but when I get settled I think I'll start one. Then I can have a set of travel superstar suitcases.